May is late spring at full volume: 24–30°C, roses in the Dades Valley, waterfalls at full flow and long golden evenings. The desert warms up (33–38°C by late month) but stays very doable with local timing.
We’re Soufiane and Elhoussian — May means the rose harvest around Kelaat M’Gouna, an hour from the gorges we drive every week. The valley smells of roses for two weeks straight.
May Weather in Morocco
- Marrakech & Fes: 24–31°C — warm, dry, fine with morning starts
- Sahara (Merzouga): 33–38°C days late-month, 15–20°C nights — sunset/sunrise timing
- Coast: 20–25°C — Essaouira at its best
- Atlas: prime trekking — clear passes, green valleys, full rivers (Ouzoud waterfalls thundering)
The May Highlights
The Rose Festival at Kelaat M’Gouna (usually mid-May) fills the Dades with petals, parades and rosewater. Waterfalls — Ouzoud especially — run at full spring flow. And prices ease from the April peak while the weather holds. It’s the last full-circuit month before summer routing kicks in.
What to Do in Morocco in May
The classic loops still run happily — the 10-day tour from Casablanca catches rose season on the kasbah road, and the 8-day itinerary times its two desert days around the heat. Beach lovers: the coast season starts now.
Morocco in May: FAQ
Is May too hot for Morocco?
No — cities run 24–31°C and the coast is perfect. The desert reaches the mid-30s late in the month, handled easily with sunset camel treks and early starts.
When is the Rose Festival?
Usually mid-May in Kelaat M’Gouna, in the Dades/Rose Valley — timed to the harvest. Our kasbah-road itineraries pass straight through it.
May or October?
Both shoulder gems. May is greener with waterfalls and roses; October is calmer, golden and slightly cooler in the desert. You won’t regret either.
— Soufiane & Elhoussian, Happy Morocco Travel · Rissani, gateway to the Sahara
